Machine for applying sealing compound to can or container tops



June 18, 1957 J BERTORELLO ETAL 2,795,818 MACHINE FOR APPLYING SEALING COMPOUND TO CAN CONTAI NER TOPS 1O Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1954 INVENTORJI F! .f. JACK 'BERTORELLO y BART CAVALIERE Filed May 4, 1954 June 18, 1957 J. BERTORELLO ETAL 2,795,818

MACHINE FOR APPLYING SEALING COMPOUND TO CAN OR CONTAINER TOPS l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 INVENTORY K l I d JACK BERIORELLO iz I I I [97 85 88 BART 'C'AVALIERE y J l V Z1 (4 June 18, 1957 J. BERTORELLO ETAL 2,795,818 MACHINE FOR APPLYING SEALING COMPOUND T0 CAN Filed May 4, 1954 OR CONTAINER TOPS l0 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORJ JACK BERTORELLO y BART CAVALIERE June 18,1957 J. BERTORELLO ETAL 2,795,818

MACHINE FOR APPLYING SEALING COMPOUND TQ CAN 0R CONTAINER TOPS Filed y 4, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS w JACK DER'I'ORELLO 'By DART CAVALIERE June 18, 1957 J, BERTORELLO ET AL MACHINE FOR APPLYING SEALING COMPOUND T0 CAN Filed May 4, 1954 OR CONTAINER TOPS 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORJ JACK BERTORELLO CAVALIERE June 18, 1957 J. BERTORELLO ETAL- v MACHINE FOR 2,795,818 APPLYING SEALING COMPOUND T0 CAN OR CONTAINER TOPS Filed May 4, 1954 l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 $1 95 :1 15 W F1 a 97 J J I .i l I -10: I ao 16e y l INVENTORS I JACK BER'I'ORELLO (93 1 97.491

y BART CAVALIEIRE 'June ls, 1957 J. BERTORELLO ETAL 2,795,813

MACHINE'F'OR APPLYING SEALING COMPOUND TO CAN OR CONTAINER TOPS Filed May 4, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Emma I? 4m 1 5 ///1 M0 162 15/ 3 1 "T I47 INVENTORS JACK BERTORELLO y BART CAVALIERE June 18, 1957 J. BER-TORELLO ET AL MACHINE FOR APPLYING SEALING COMPOUND T0 CAN 0R CONTAINER TOPS Filed May 4, 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORI .JAcK BERTORELLO DART CAV LIER n 1957 J. BERTORELLO EI'AL 2,795,818

MACHINE FOR APPLYING SEALING COMPOUND TO CAN OR CONTAINER TOPS- Filed May 4, 1954 10 Shets-Sheet 9 IN VEN TORS JACK BERTORELLO y BART CAVALIERE Arman ,5)

J n 1957 J. BERTORELLO ETAL ,7

MACHINE FOR APPLYING SEALING COMPOUND T0 CAN Filed May 4, 1954 OR CONTAINER TOPS 1O Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTORS l6 .eIAcK BERTORELLO y BART CAVALIERE United States Patent MACHINE FOR APPLYING SEALING COMPOUND TO CAN OR CONTAINER TOPS Jack Bertorello and Bart Cavalier-e, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application May 4, 1954, Serial No. 427,641

3 Claims. (Cl. 18-1) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for applying sealing compound to can or container tops to provide sealing rings thereon.

More particulanly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved can top sealing compound applicating machine which can be used to quickly and accurately form a sealing ring of uniform thickness on a can top for paint cans, glass canning jars, or numerous other like containers generally referred to herein collectively as a can or cans.

As another object, the present invention proposes forming the can top sealing compound applicating machine with a rotatable spindle which will pick up a can top from a base member and hold it in proper position to apply the ring forming sealing compound.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means on the machine to dislodge the can top from the spindle after the sealing compound has been applied in a ring on the can top and means to catch the can top so dislodged.

As a further object, the present invention proposes providing a compound applying nozzle with a valve normally closed and operable automatically with thespindle to apply sealing compound for a limited timed period while a can top is held to and suspended on the spindle.

Still further, the present invention proposes constructing the machine with means to keep the nozzle valve closed when no can top is on the spindle as, for example, when the operator fails to supply the machine with can tops or the spindle fails to pick up a can top.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the can top sealing compound applicating machine of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the machine.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front view with parts broken away and in section.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the parts in different positions.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the machine with its spindle in lowered position and other parts in corresponding positions.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5, but showing the spindle and other parts in fully lowered position.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the spindle going up and the other parts in corresponding positions.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the bottom portion of the machine in the positionshown in Fig. 7 and of a can top in the machine.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the valve opening cam and cam roller lever with the lowered roller lever indicated in dot-dash outline. I

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-42 of Fig. 5. I

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13--13 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on line 1414 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of the can top and valve control roller arm shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 10.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the can top holding base member and attendant parts.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the can top shown in Figs. 8, 10 and 15 but after it has been removed from the machine.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view of the nozzle and valve structure shown in the several figures.

Fig. 19 is a perspective fragmentary view of part of the valve operating means with parts broken away, and in section.

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19 but showing only a part of the structure shown therein.

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of another portion of the valve operating mechanism shown in the several figures.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary top plan view of part of the feeding mechanism for the machine.

Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken on line 23-23 of Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a view similar to Fig. 23 but showing the gate of the feed mechanism in the process of being tilted as the spindle descends.

Fig. 25 is a side view similar to Figs. 23 and 24 but showing the gate fully tilted and the spindle in its lowermost position.

Referring more particulanly to the drawings, the can top sealing compound applicating machine has an open box frame 15 which is mounted on an inclined plane support 16 as shown in Fig. 1.

Frame 15 has four bottom angle members 17, 18, 19 and 20, four upright side angle corner members 21, 22, 23 and 24, and four top angle members 25, 26, 27 and 28. All of these frame members are held together by rivets or bolts 30 or by welding. The upright side members rest on and butt against the bottom members and are fastened to them by straps or fishplates 31.

A pair of upper brackets 32 and 33 and a pair of lower brackets 34 and 35 are fixed to the frame, upper bracket 32 and lower bracket 34 having their ends secured to the upright side angle members 21 and 22 and upper bracket 33 and lower bracket 35 having their ends secured to the other two upright side members 23 and Z4.

Secured to the centers of the stationary brackets 32, 33, 34 and 35 inside the frame 15 are a pair of spaced upright angle supports 36 and 37, the support 36 being fixed to the brackets 32 and 34 and support 37 being similarly secured to brackets 33 and 35.

A pair of plate slide guides 38 and 39 are fastened to the upright angle supports 36 and 37, respectively. The plate slide guides are each formed in three pieces with two outer pieces 40 and 41 (see Fig. 13) and a narrower center piece 42 forming a slide groove 43 between the two outer pieces 40 and 41.

Slidably mounted between the plate slide guides 38 and 39 in their slide grooves 43 is a slide plate 44. A clevis bracket 45 is fixed to the back of the slide plate 44 as by screws 46 and a pin 47 pivotally holds a crankshaft link member 48 which is adjustably connected to a similar link member 49 by a dowel screw 50 and nuts 51 and 52. The link member 49 is pivotally held by a crank pin 53 to the webs or arms 54 and 55 of a crankshaft 56.

Crankshaft 56 is horizontally disposed across the frame 15 at the upper portion thereof, the crankshaft exposition of cam tending through and being rotatably held by pillow blocks or bearings 57 and 58 fastened to the upright side members 23 and 24 of the frame 15. A pulley wheel 59 is fastened to one end of the shaft 56 outside the frame 15 and a belt 60 extends from pulley wheel 59 over a smaller pulley 61 fastened to the shaft 62 of a gear head motor 63 mounted on the top of the frame. In this manner, means are provided to raise and lower the slide plate 44 in the frame.

An upright or vertical spindle 64 is rotatably secured to the front of the slide plate 44 for movement up and down with the plate 44 in the frame 15. Secured to the upper end of the spindle 64 is a sprocket 65 which is connected-by a chain 66 to a gear 67 slidably mounted on an upright shaft 68 rotatably held to the side of the frame by hearing blocks 69 fastened by bolts 70 to cross members 71 and 72 fixed to the upright side members 21 and 24 of the frame. The upright shaft 68 has a key 73 on it and the gear 67 has a mating keyway so that the gear may slide up and down on the shaft and still will be rotated with it.

A pulley 74 is fastened to the upper end of the shaft 68 and is connected by a belt 75 with a pulley wheel 76 on the shaft 77 of a motor 78 also mounted on the top of the frame. A gear sliding arm 79 having one end fastened to the slide plate 44 and the other end connected with the sliding gear 67 provides means to raise and lower the gear 67 with the spindle and with the sprocket 65 mounted on the upper end of the spindle.

A can top gripping disc or die 80 is attached to the lower end of the spindle 64 removably and frictionally to hold a can top 81 to the spindle. The die 80 frictionally fits the lid opening 82 in the can top 81.

Cross bar supports 83 extend across the bottom of the frame between bottom members 17 and 19 and are fixed to such members. Fixed to the cross bar supports 83 and on top of them is a can top holding base member 84. The base member 84 is disposed beneath the spindle 64 and the can top gripping disc or die 80.

Can top holding base member 84 has a can top holding plate 85 (see Fig. rotatably mounted in it on a race and ring 86 containing a plurality of ball bearings 87. Plate 85 has a central opening 88 and raised portions 89 conforming to the shape of the can top 81 to hold the can top upside down on the plate 85. The base member 84 has a circular side wall 90 around the plate 85 and can top insertion guides 91 are disposed on top of the side wall 90.

The can top gripping disc or die 80 on the lower end of the spindle is adapted to move on the downward stroke of the slide plate 44 and spindle into the can top holding base member 84 and frictionally engage the can top 81 to lift it upside down from the base member 84 and take it up with the spindle on the upstroke of the slide plate and spindle.

A can top stripper 92 (see Figs. 3 and 9 particularly) is provided to dislodge the can top 81 from the spindle die 80 at or near the top of the upstroke of the slide plate and spindle. The stripper 92 has a stripper plate 93 with an opening 94 large enough to permit passage of the spindle can top gripping plate or die but not large enough to pass the can top 81. Stripper plate 93 is fastened to a bracket arm 95 which in turn is adjustably held by bolts 96 to a lower bracket arm 97 fastened to the cross bar supports 83 at the bottom of the frame 15. The stripper plate 93 is thus held across the frame and with its opening 94 axially aligned with the spindle and with the can top holding base member 84.

An apron shield 98 is provided between the stripper plate 93 and the can top holding base member 84 to catch the can tops dislodged from the spindle die by the stripper. The shield 98 is secured at one end by bolts 99 to a slider 100 slidably mounted on a support block 101 fixed to cross blocks 102 which are fixed to the bottom of the frame. A coil spring 103 is mounted on a rod 104 one end of which rod is fixed to the bottom-of the slider 100. An abutment plate 105 is secured by two bolts 105 to the support block 101 and the rod 104 slidably extends through the abutment plate 104 with one end of the coil spring abutting this abutment plate. In this manner, the slider 100 and the shield 98 fixed to it are continually biased by the coil spring 103 into a position where the shield 98 is disposed under the spindle and overlies the can top holding base member 84.

Fixed to the top of the slider 100 is a retraction bracket post 106. A shield retraction lever 107 is fixed at its upper end to one end of a pin 108 which is journalled in a bearing block 109 fixed to the stationary upright angle support 36 in the frame 15. A pin pivoting lever 110 is fixed at one end to the other end of the pin 108 (see Figs. 2 and 13). The other end of the lever 110 is disposed adjacent the back of the spindle slide plate 44. A lever operating bar 111 is adjustably and removably fastened to the back of the spindle slide plate 44 to operate the lever 110 as the slide plate 44 descends. Bar 111 contains a slot opening 112 through which a screw 113 holds the bar 111 to the slide plate 44. The lower end of the shield retraction lever 107 normally hangs vertically and abuts the retraction post 1.06 of the apron shield slider 100 (see Fig. 4). The lever 107 is of a length, however, to force back the post 106 as the slide plate 44 descends, despite the pressure of coil spring 103 to a point where the apron shield 98 is fully retracted and no longer lies between the spindle and the can top holding base member 84.

Mounted on the front of the slide plate 44 by bolts 114 (see Fig. 13) and spaced from the slide plate 44 by spindle bridging spacers 115 having spindle passing openings 116 is a front plate 117, a second plate 208, and a third plate 209 which holds a tube bearing 210. The

second plate 208 is adjustable vertically and the front plate 117 is adjustable horizontally so that the nozzle 119 can be adjustable vertically or horizontally without moving the die 20 or spindle 64. A nozzle and valve holding bracket 118 is fixed to the lower end of the front plate 117.

A conduit 121 (Fig. 18) and a flexible hose 122 (Fig. 6) connects the valve and nozzle with a source or supply of sealing compound (not shown). The valve has a diaphragm 123 (Fig. 18) and a spring 124 adapted to bias a valve stem 125 downward normally to hold the seat portion 127 on stem 125 seated and the nozzle orifice 128 closed.

The valve stem 125 is secured by a pin 129 to valve opening slide 130 slidably mounted vertically between spaced bar members 131 and 132 fastened to the front plate 117 by screws 133 and 134, respectively. Valve opening slide 130 contains a notch 135 in its upper end.

A cam follower lever 136 is pivotally secured at one end to the front plate 117 by a pivot and fulcrum pin 137. The cam follower lever 136 is L-shaped and a dog 138 (see Figs. 19, 20 and 21) is pivotally secured to the lever 136 by a pivot pin 139 adjacent the bend 140 of the lever. The dog 138 has a hook 141 shaped to fit the notch 135 in the valve opening slide 130 in trigger fashion.

Extending from one side of dog 138 at the lower end of the dog is a pin 142 fixed to the dog. A fork 143 at one end of a vertically inclined link lever 144 slidably fits around the projecting pin 142 of the dog 138. The lower end of the lever 144 is pivotally secured by a link pin 145 to the end of a horizontal link lever 146. An angle bracket 147 is fixed to the horizontal link lever 146 by a screw 148 and a rod 149 slidably fits through this bracket. One end of the rod 149 contains a stirrup 150 which is pivotally secured to the vertically inclined link lever 144 immediate the ends of the lever by a pin 151. The other end of the rod 149 slidably extends through the angle bracket 147 and is threaded with nuts 152 screwed thereon.- A coil spring 153 fits around the rod 149 and is disposed between the stirrup 150 and the angle bracket 147 to hold the vertically inclined link lever 144 in a vertically inclined position.

Horizontal lever 146 has a fork 154 at its other end which slidably fits over a projecting pin 155 fixed to the upper end of a vertical roller support post 156, a horizontally disposed roller arm 157 being fastened to the lower end of the post 156 by a screw 158. A post guide member 159 is adjustably held to the front plate 117 by a threaded dowel rod 160 which passes through a threaded opening 161 in a stationary block 162 fixed to the front plate 117. A nut 163 locks the rod 160 to the stationary block 162.

A spring support bracket 164 is fixed to the post guide member 159 by screws 160' and overlies the vertical roller support post 156 slidably to hold the post 156 against the front plate 117. One end of a coil spring 165 is scured to the bracket 164 and the other end is secured to the upper portion of the vertical roller support post 156.

Rotatably mounted on the horizontally disposed roller arm 157 is a roller 166 adapted to roll on the inside raised flange 167 (see Fig. 15) or other surface of the can top 81. The above described linkage from the roller 166 to the dog 138 is adapted to hold the hook 141 of the dog out of the notch 135 in the valve opening slide 130 as long as the roller 166 hangs freely and until the roller is raised by engagement with the flange 167 of the can top 81 when the can top is frictionally held to the spindle gripping plate or die. As long as the dog hook and the notch 135 of the valve opening slide 130 are not engaged the valve spring 124 holds the valve closed.

An adjustment rod 168 is fixed at one end to the L- shaped cam follower lever 136 which is pivotally secured to the front plate 117. The free end of the adjustment rod 168 slidably extends through a support bracket 169 fixed to the front plate 117. A coil spring 170 on the rod 168 between the lever 136 and the bracket 169 biases the lever 136 downwardly.

A cam follower 171 is rotatably mounted on the free end of the L-shaped cam follower lever 136 by an axle pin 172. A cam plate 173 having a raised cam surface 174 is adjustably fastened to vertical cam support plate 175 fixed to the upright side members of the frame 15. Angle cam guide members 176, 177 and 178 are fixed to the plate 175 by screws 179 and set screws 180 extend through members 176, 177 and 178 adjustably to position the cam plate 173 on the support plate 175. The cam plate 173 has a large central opening 181 over which rests a cover plate 182 and a screw 183 extends through the cover plate and cam plate to hold them on the support plate 175. From the foregoing it will be seen that means is provided to open the valve for a timed interval (the time it takes the cam follower 171 to traverse the raised cam surface 174 on the upstroke of the spindle) the spindle being rotated all the while. The valve operating means is operable by the raising of the spindle and means is provided also by the dog 138, roller 166 and linkage therebetween to hold the valve closed when no can top is on the spindle.

Can top feeding mechanism is provided for the machine as follows: An inclined slide 185 (see Figs. 1 and 22-25) is secured to the machine by a bracket 186. Slide 185 can either get its inclination from tilting the machine as shown in Fig. 1 or from mounting it at an inclination. In any event, the front and lower end 187 of the slide 185 is facing, adjacent, above and to one side of the can top holding base member 84.

Slide 185 has spaced channel-shaped sides or guides 188 and 189 slidably to hold a plurality of can tops 81 by their lips 190 in single file for sliding to the can top holding base member 84. A gate 191 is tiltably mounted over the slide 185 to pass can tops 81 one at a time. Gate 191 consists of a bar 192 with dependent front and rear ends or end pieces 193 and 194 respectively. These ends 193 and 194 are spaced apart to receive only one can top between them, the ends 193 and 194 being adapted to abut the raised flanges 167 of the can tops.

Bar 192 is fixed immediate to its ends 193 and 194 to a pivot shaft 195 pivotally held in spaced bearing blocks 196 and 197 fixed to the slide 185. Also fixed to the shaft 195 is a limit arm 198 with set screws 199 and 200 at its ends so that by adjusting the set screws the gate openings beneath the ends 193 and 194 can be varied. A spring 201 is mounted on the front end set screw 199 normally to hold the front end of the gate open and the rear endclosed.

A gate tilting member 202 (Figs. 1 and 25) is mounted on the back of the spindle holding slide plate 44 and is in this way connected with the spindle to rise and fall as the spindle is raised and lowered. Member 202 has a vertical partially threaded rod 203 which is slidably mounted in a bracket 204 fixed to the slide plate 44 of the machine. A coil spring 205 around the spindle and adjustment nuts 206 and 207 provide means to adjust the rod 203. The lower end of the rod 203 is aligned with and adapted to bear against the front set screw 199 on the tilting gate to tilt the gate against the spring 201 and reverse the normally open and closed ends of the gates While the spindle is lowered.

Once the front end of the gate is tilted closed a can top 81 is free to slide through the open rear end of the gate into the gate. Only one can top can come into the gate because of the closed front end. As the spindle is raised, the rear end of the gate closes and no more can tops can come into the gate. At the same time, the one can top in the gate slides into the can top holding member. In this way, means is provided to feed can tops one at a time to the can holding base member as the spindle is raised.

This device may also be equipped on the back of a standard type of power press and operated automatically with the press.

To operate the machine, the flexible hose 122 is connected with a supply of fluid sealing compound such as rubber and the spindle driving motor 78 is started continuously to drive the spindle. Assuming the spindle is in raised position and at the top of its stroke (see Fig. 3) a can top 81 is inserted bottom side up in the can top holding base member 84 beneath the apron shield 98. The spindle raising and lowering crank drive motor 63 is started and the rotating spindle begins its downward stroke. Because the roller 166 is not pushed upwardly by any can top on the spindle, the dog hook and the valve opening lever notch are not engaged and the valve remains closed while the cam follower travels downwardly over the raised cam surface 174 on the cam plate 173.

As the spindle continues its down stroke the lever operating bar 111 on the back of the spindle slide plate 44 moves the lever 110 pivoting pin 108 and operating the shield retraction lever 107 to retract the apron shield slider and move the apron shield 98 from over the can top holding base member 84.

The gripping plate or die on the lower end of the spindle is then forced into the lid opening 82 of the can top 81 and the roller 166 is pushed upwardly by the flange 167 of the can top 81, the roller rotating on this flange as the spindle continuously rotates. The tension of the ripsler against the flange is held by an adjustable stopper As the spindle begins its upstroke, the can top is lifted from the can top holding base member 84 and is rotated with the spindle. The valve remains closed, however, until the cam follower 172 moves onto the raised cam surface 174 of cam plate 173 on the upstroke of the spindle. The dog hook and the valve opening lever notch being held engaged by the roller 166 bearing on the flange 167 of the can top 81, the valve opening lever is raised by the dog and the L-shaped cam follower arm when the cam follower moves onto the raised cam surface. This opens the valve and sealing compound flows from the nozzle from its source pressure into the annular recess 184 of the can top 81 to form a sealing ring 185 as the can top revolves with the spindle.

The valve is closed as soon as the cam follower passes the raised can surface on its upstroke and further movement of the spindle on the upstroke brings the can top against the stripper plate 93 which dislodges the can'top as the spindle continues upward. The can top falls onto the apron shield 98 which is returned by spring 103 to its can top holding base member covering position as the spindle is on its upstroke. The cycle is then complete and can be repeated over and over to apply sealing rings on numerous can tops quickly, conveniently, efficiently and economically.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A can top sealing compound applicating machine comprising a frame, a vertical spindle rotatably mounted on the frame, can top holding means at the lower end of the spindle frictionally to hold a can top, a nozzle for sealing compound vertically mounted in the frame adjacent the spindle, a normally closed valve for the nozzle, means to raise and lower the spindle, means to rotate the spindle, valve opening means to open the valve for a timed interval While the spindle is raised and rotated, said valve opening means being operable by the raising of the spindle, and a can top holding base member fixed to the frame beneath the spindle, said member having a can top holding plate rotatably mounted therein, said can top holding means at the lower end of the spindle being a gripping die frictionally to fit the lid opening of a can top when the can top is resting on said can top holding plate of said base member, said means to raise and lower the spindle being adapted to force the die through the lid opening of a can top frictionally to hold the can top to the spindle for removal from the can top holding plate and the can top holding base member, an apron shield pivotally mounted on the frame with slide and lever means to dispose said apron shield between the spindle and the can top holding base member as the spindle is raised and to retract the apron shield from such position as the spindle is lowered, and a stripper plate in the frame adjacent the spindle above the can top holding base member to dislodge a can top from the spindle when the spindle is in fully raised position.

2. A can top sealing compound applicating machine comprising a frame, a vertical spindle :rot'atably and slidably mounted on the frame, can top holding means at the lower end of .the spindle frictionally .to hold a can top, a nozzle for sealing compound vertically mounted in the frame adjacent the spindle, a normally closed valve for the nozzle, means to raise and lower the spindle, means to rotate the spindle, valve opening meansto open the valve for a timed interval while the spindle is raised and rotated, said valve opening means being operable by the raising of the spindle, and means to hold the valve closed when no can top is on the can top holding means at the lower end of the spindle, said valve being normally closed and having a valve stem with a valve opening slide connected thereto, said valve opening means being a stationary cam plate with a cam surface thereon and a cam follower and follower arm connected with the valve opening slide and with the spindle for movement up and down with the spindle to operate the valve opening slide as the cam follower passes over the cam surface, said means to hold the valve closed when no can top is on the spindle being a dog connected with the cam follower arm, a can top roller adapted to roll on a can top when the can top is on the can ,top holding means at the lower end of the spindle and the spindle is rotated, said dog having a hook and said valve opening slide having a notch removably to receive the hook, linkage between the dog and the can top roller to hold the dog hook 'in the valve opening slide notch and lock the valve closed when no can. top is on the spindle and no pressure is exerted on the can top roller, and a stripper plate in the frame adjacent the spindle above the can top holding means to dislodge a can .top from the spindle when the spindle is in fully raised position.

3. A can top sealing compound applicating machine comprising a frame, a vertical spindle rotatably and slidably mounted on the frame, can top holding means at the lower end of the spindle frietionally to hold a can top, a nozzle for sealing compound vertically mounted in the frame adjacent the spindle, a normally closed valve for the nozzle, means to raise and lower the spindle, means to rotate the spindle, valve opening means to open the valve for a timed interval while the spindle is raised and rotated, said valve opening means being operable by the raising of the spindle, and a can top holding base member fixed to the frame beneath the spindle, and means ,to feed can tops one at a time to the can top holding base member as the spindle is raised, said feed means being an inclined slide with spaced guides slid'ably to hold a plurality of can tops by their lips in single file for sliding to the can top holding base member and a gate tiltably mounted over the slide to pass the can tops one at a tirne, a resilient member to hold the gate normally open at one end facing the can .top holding base member and closed at the other end, and a gate tilting member connected with the spindle to tilt the gate and reverse the normally open and closed ends while the spindle is lowered.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,861,589 W-aith June 7, 1932 1,960,187 Page May 22, 1934 2,278,643 Braun Apr. 7, 1942 2,287,356 Newman June 23, 1942 2,314,120 Bnaun Mar. 16, 1943 2,332,937 Schmidberger Oct. 26, 1943 

